Magnetic deflection ball game



June 10, 1969 c. o. GRIGGSY 3,448,982

MAGNETIC DEFLEC'IION BALL GAME Filed March 16, 1966 fig. 2. INVENTOR.

C gsm? O. GR/GGS Maw United States Patent 3,448,982 MAGNETIC DEFLECTION BALL GAME Chester Olin Griggs, 519 N. Peterson Ave., Douglas, Ga. 31533 Filed Mar. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 534,720 Int. Cl. A63g 7/10 as. Cl. 273-119 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A magnetic ball game apparatus having a non-magnetic horizontal surface with a depression therein and an upstanding side rail. A magnet is movably positioned beneath the base between a ball influencing position inwardly of the rail and a ball releasing position generally beneath the rail. A magnetic ball is moved over the upper surface between such positions until the ball contacts the rail and then travels around the rail. Then the magnet is moved back to influence the ball While it is rolling on the upper surface to deflect same toward the depression and become seated therein when accurately deflected. A lever and spring return is associated with the magnet to permit movement thereof by the player.

The present invention relates to games of skill.

The object of the present invention is to provide a game in which a steel ball is shot and controlled by a magnet without physical contact with the steel ball.

For an understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the following description and to the drawings made in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the parts identification is as follows:

1 is a co-axial magnet, both poles of which are at the top end and have a close fit to the bottom of surface plate 3.

2 is a magnetic steel ball.

3 is the surface plate upon which ball 2 may roll. Plate 3 must be non-magnetic.

4 is a circular rail.

5 is the transparent top.

6 are spacers between base 12 and surface plate 3, allowing space for magnet 1.

7 is a slot in base 12, through which stud 17 is fitted.

8 is the magnet actuating lever.

9 is a slot in lever 8 through which stud 17 is fitted.

10 is the pivot pin for lever 8.

11 are bumper feet which allow space for lever 10 between base 12 and the surface upon which feet 11 are placed.

12 is the base plate.

13 is the actuating knob.

14 is the actuating lever return spring.

15 is the object hole or depression which is in the center of surface plate 3.

16 is the upper end of pin 10 which prevents ball 2 from falling through hole 15.

17 is the magnet retaining stud which mounts magnet 1 through slots 7 and 9.

Proper operation of this game requires surface plate 3 to be perfectly level.

The operation of the present invention is as follows: Ball 2 is positioned upon surface 3 directly over magnet 1. When lever 8 is rotated around pivot pin 10 by pulling on knob 13, magnet 1 will move along a line which is tangent to the radius of circular rail 4 to a position where its magnetic influence on ball 2 is greatly diminished. As the above described movement of magnet 1 is occurring, ball 2 will roll along a line upon surface 3 which is di- "Ice rectly above and parallel to the line of movement of the center of magnet 1. When the pull on knob 13 is accomplished in the required manner, ball 2 will have imparted to it, by magnetic coupling, suflicient energy to cause it to roll around rail 4 from one to ten times. The amount of energy imparted to ball 2 depends on just how the pull on knob 13 is made. Maximum energy is imparted to ball 2 when the pull is made with a slow start and followed by an increasingly faster motion. As ball 2' is following over magnet 1, it reaches a point where it strikes rail 4 and from this point on ball 2 will roll around rail 4 until its energy is dissipated by friction or until it is deflected from rail 4 by magnet 1. If magnet 1 is held out at a point where its center is directly below rail 4, its magnetic field will cause no inward deflection of ball 2 as it rolls around rail 4. If return spring 14 is allowed to return magnet 1 to a position between rail 4 and object hole 15, ball 2 will be deflected by the field of magnet 1 from its path around rail 4. 'If the energy contained in ball 2 is of exactly the required magnitude as it passes near magnet 1, it will be deflected into a spiral path which will result in ball 2 falling into object hole 15.

Practice and skill are required to make a good score with this game. Ball 2 must be shot with exactly the-required energy in order for its energy to be correct when it passes over magnet 1 during one of its orbits around rail 4. The operator must acquire the skill to judge the speed of ball 2. The game may be played by one or more persons; the object being to place ball 2 in hole 15 with the fewest number of shots.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a rolling magnetic ball game apparatus comprising means for engaging a supporting surface, a non-magnetic base fixed with respect to said means and having an upper and lower surface, a substantially continuous and upstanding curved rail extending upwardly from said base, a depression in said base spaced from and inwardly of said rail, a magnetic ball confined within said rail and limited in rolling movement on said upper surface by said rail, a magnet beneath said lower surface, means attached to the apparatus for movably mounting said magnet with respect to said base in a fixed path relative to said upper surface, said fixed path of said magnet intersecting said rail at an angle substantially tangential with respect to said rail, said magnet being movable from a ball influencing position disposed inwardly of said rail along said path to a ball releasing position disposed generally beneath said rail, said ball being moved on said upper surface by said magnet from said ball influencing position toward said ball releasing position until said ball contacts said rail at said angle whereby said ball becomes released from the field of said magnet and travels on said upper surface and in contact with and around said rail, said ball being adapted to move out of contact with said rail and to seat within said depression after being released by said magnet and after travelling on said upper surface.

2. In the rolling magnetic ball game aparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for movably mounting said magnet mounts said magnet for movement from said ball releasing position toward said ball influencing position after release of said ball, said magnet being positioned inwardly of said rail after release of said ball whereby the magnetic field of said magnet influences said ball as it is travelling on said upper surface against said rail to deflect same from adjacent said rail towards said depression.

3. In the rolling ball game apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising spring means attached to said means for movably mounting said magnet from said ball release position toward a ball influencing position inwardly of said rail after release of said ball from said magnet.

4. In the rolling magnetic ball game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for movably mounting said magnet includes an elongated lever having opposite end portions, one said end portion being pivotally attached to the apparatus, the other said end portion extending outwardly of said base and rail, said magnet being attached to said lever between its said end portions, said other end portion providing an actuating handle graspable by the hand of a player to pivot said lever thereby moving said magnet between its said positions.

5. 111 the rolling ball game apparatus as defined in claim 4 further comprising a spring operatively associated between said lever and the apparatus for returning said lever toward its original position prior to movement thereof by the player.

6. In the rolling magnetic ball game apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said depression is disposed generally medially of said base and generally equidistant from and inwardly of said rail.

7. In the rolling ball game apparatus as defined in .4 claim 1 wherein said rail is non-magnetic and extends vertically from said base, said base being planar with said upper surface being generally smooth and horizontally disposed to permit free rolling movement by said ball.

8. In the rolling magnetic ball game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said rail is circular.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 623,887 4/1899 Cottrell 273-1 938,509 11/1909 Pullen 2731 1,248,270 11/1917 Cooper 273123 2,707,106 4/1955 Cunningham 273118 X 3,116,929 l/1964 Kernodle 273-1 X 3,033,573 5/1962 Castle et a1. 46240 X RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

T. ZACK, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 273-123 

